Re: [bolger] micro-navigator and 2 issues
>2) Sailing on deck:For crying out loud! The boat is only 15.5 feet long!
> I grew up daysailing, and love being out in the wind and weather.
> Sure you need shelter on a long cruise, but this design doesn't seem
>to provide any space for sitting on deck, in the sun, sailing.
>
But I hear what you're saying. Most, maybe all, of PCB's
glasshouse/birdwatcher derivatives have little in the way of outside
space. The I60 is an exception, but it's also 60 feet long.
I grew up daysailing too. I think one of PCB's insights is that on
long cruise being out in the wind and weather looses it's charm
rapidly. A short conversation with even the most hardened bluewater
sailor will confirm this. Most serious cruising boats have big
dodgers or other add-ons to make up for the lack of shelter for the
helmsman in the way the boat is drawn.
Your typical keelboat floats much lower in the water. The "deck"
you're sunning yourself on is equivalent in the boat envelope to the
roof of the glasshouse boat. But in the glasshouse boat the righting
moment is provided (in large part) by the house. In the keelboat, the
lead has to do all the work. This make the "glasshouse" boat cheaper
(materials, ease of construction) for the same capabilities. It also
means that you don't lounge on the roof.
YIBB,
David
--
C.E.P.
415 W.46th Street
New York, New York 10036
http://www.crumblingempire.com
Mobile (646) 325-8325
Office (212) 247-0296
Sam,
Dons' answer to your number two question sounds like the most
sensible thing to do unless you have unlimited time/resources and
plan on sailing around the world by keeping to the coasts as much as
possible.Otherwise,I would be concerned about being able to carry
sufficient stores for trans-oceanic passages.
As to your first question,here are my .02cents worth;considering
the very small size of the Micro along with the fact that she is so
shallow/light as to be effected by simple wind driven surface
currents,whatever electric auto-helm you use will be constantly on
and draining your battery(s) at a grand rate.Expressed another
way,out on the ocean she is so small as to be like a dinghy and you
wouldn't put an auto-helm on a dinghy.Instead,simply lash a combo of
line and bungee cord to the tiller and adjust the tension to your
desired course.The Micro needs her mizzen sail to balance properly
and this sail also acts as a very effective"air rudder".Use this rig
for a season or two to fully explore its' potential.
Added to this is the Micros' relatively low hull speed.So slow,in
fact,that if you wanted to lay down to sleep for a couple of hours
little ground would be lost by heaving to before you settle down.Not
that you will be able to sleep for anything like eight hours in such
a diminuative vessel bouncing and slapping around out on the bright
ocean blue :-)
All of this free advice,of course,may be completely wasted on
you if you are preparing for entry into the record books."SAILING
ALONE AROUND THE WORLD IN A BOLGER MICRO-NAVIGATOR" by Samuel
Halperin is one book I would certainly buy if/when it goes on sale!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,curious to hear more about Sams' plans for future
Navigator cruises.........
Dons' answer to your number two question sounds like the most
sensible thing to do unless you have unlimited time/resources and
plan on sailing around the world by keeping to the coasts as much as
possible.Otherwise,I would be concerned about being able to carry
sufficient stores for trans-oceanic passages.
As to your first question,here are my .02cents worth;considering
the very small size of the Micro along with the fact that she is so
shallow/light as to be effected by simple wind driven surface
currents,whatever electric auto-helm you use will be constantly on
and draining your battery(s) at a grand rate.Expressed another
way,out on the ocean she is so small as to be like a dinghy and you
wouldn't put an auto-helm on a dinghy.Instead,simply lash a combo of
line and bungee cord to the tiller and adjust the tension to your
desired course.The Micro needs her mizzen sail to balance properly
and this sail also acts as a very effective"air rudder".Use this rig
for a season or two to fully explore its' potential.
Added to this is the Micros' relatively low hull speed.So slow,in
fact,that if you wanted to lay down to sleep for a couple of hours
little ground would be lost by heaving to before you settle down.Not
that you will be able to sleep for anything like eight hours in such
a diminuative vessel bouncing and slapping around out on the bright
ocean blue :-)
All of this free advice,of course,may be completely wasted on
you if you are preparing for entry into the record books."SAILING
ALONE AROUND THE WORLD IN A BOLGER MICRO-NAVIGATOR" by Samuel
Halperin is one book I would certainly buy if/when it goes on sale!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,curious to hear more about Sams' plans for future
Navigator cruises.........
--- In bolger@y..., "Samuel Halperin" <samhalperin@a...> wrote:
> The micro-navigator is very appealing to me. Cheap, simple to
build,
> world cruising capable. I have two questions/issues with the design
> which I would like addressed by those more knowledgable than me.
>
> 1) Auto-pilot / Self steering:
> I realise that the yawl rig would have some self steering
> properties, but enough to reliable go around the world? I would
> prefer a rig that would allow for a wind vane self steering system.
> Would you use an electronic autopilot with this design?
>
> 2) Sailing on deck:
> I grew up daysailing, and love being out in the wind and
weather.
> Sure you need shelter on a long cruise, but this design doesn't
seem
> to provide any space for sitting on deck, in the sun, sailing.
>
> Sam
I am doing a Navigator Sam. I recommend you do the same as me for
your world voyage, which answers question2.
Build a nice strong cradle, and book some space on the deck of a
container ship. When you want some sun and wind, climb down onto
the ships deck and unfold your deck chair. You will have a very
comfortable trip, arriving back where you started safe and sound.
DonB
your world voyage, which answers question2.
Build a nice strong cradle, and book some space on the deck of a
container ship. When you want some sun and wind, climb down onto
the ships deck and unfold your deck chair. You will have a very
comfortable trip, arriving back where you started safe and sound.
DonB
--- In bolger@y..., "Samuel Halperin" <samhalperin@a...> wrote:
> The micro-navigator is very appealing to me. Cheap, simple to
build,
> world cruising capable. I have two questions/issues with the
design
> which I would like addressed by those more knowledgable than me.
>
> 1) Auto-pilot / Self steering:
> I realise that the yawl rig would have some self steering
> properties, but enough to reliable go around the world? I would
> prefer a rig that would allow for a wind vane self steering
system.
> Would you use an electronic autopilot with this design?
>
> 2) Sailing on deck:
> I grew up daysailing, and love being out in the wind and
weather.
> Sure you need shelter on a long cruise, but this design doesn't
seem
> to provide any space for sitting on deck, in the sun, sailing.
>
> Sam
The micro-navigator is very appealing to me. Cheap, simple to build,
world cruising capable. I have two questions/issues with the design
which I would like addressed by those more knowledgable than me.
1) Auto-pilot / Self steering:
I realise that the yawl rig would have some self steering
properties, but enough to reliable go around the world? I would
prefer a rig that would allow for a wind vane self steering system.
Would you use an electronic autopilot with this design?
2) Sailing on deck:
I grew up daysailing, and love being out in the wind and weather.
Sure you need shelter on a long cruise, but this design doesn't seem
to provide any space for sitting on deck, in the sun, sailing.
Sam
world cruising capable. I have two questions/issues with the design
which I would like addressed by those more knowledgable than me.
1) Auto-pilot / Self steering:
I realise that the yawl rig would have some self steering
properties, but enough to reliable go around the world? I would
prefer a rig that would allow for a wind vane self steering system.
Would you use an electronic autopilot with this design?
2) Sailing on deck:
I grew up daysailing, and love being out in the wind and weather.
Sure you need shelter on a long cruise, but this design doesn't seem
to provide any space for sitting on deck, in the sun, sailing.
Sam